Press Releases
New DPS Podcast Episode Focuses on Building Safety and Fire Department Access
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services has released a new episode of its podcast, “Building Safety: Fire Department Access.” The episode highlights the critical role of the plan review process in ensuring safe and effective fire department access to buildings throughout the County. This marks the 26th episode of the DPS podcast.
Hosted by DPS Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas, the episode features DPS Plan Reviewer Marie LaBaw, who reviews fire department access plans during the land development phase and oversees documentation and processing for new fire lanes in the County.
“My job is to make sure that fire trucks can get where they need to and the ambulances can get to buildings, and we can provide services to the residents, the occupants and the businesses,” said LaBaw. “This is important because, statistically speaking, every occupancy in the County will experience an emergency at some point and we want the firefighters to be able to get there to help.”
The episode also explores LaBaw’s unique career path from her time with the fire department to her current role at DPS. It also highlights her engineering expertise as a structures specialist and her work on Maryland’s Urban Search and Rescue team.
The “Building Safety: Fire Department Access” episode of the podcast is available now on the DPS website and various podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
Previous DPS podcast episodes have covered accessory dwelling units (ADUs), building safety, the Design for Life Property Tax Credit Program, eSolar, fire code compliance, GIS maps, home improvements, new codes, pool permits, public right-of-way, septic systems, special events, urban farming, use and occupancy certificates, vendor licenses and more. Residents can send questions about a current or previous episode or ideas for future podcast episodes to [email protected].
The Office of Broadband Programs in the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions provides technical support for the Permitting Services podcast.
DPS is located at 2425 Reedie Drive, seventh floor, in Wheaton. The customer service lobby is open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is needed. Customers may reach DPS staff by calling MC 311 or 240-777-0311. For more information, visit the DPS website.
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Media Contact: Sonya Burke